Aerosol generating article including porous tobacco solid and method of manufacturing porous tobacco solid

ABSTRACT

Provided is an aerosol generating article including a first portion comprising an aerosol generating element, a second portion comprising a tobacco element, a third portion comprising a cooling element, and a fourth portion comprising a filter element, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially provided in a length direction of the aerosol generating article, and wherein the second portion comprises a porous tobacco solid that comprises the tobacco element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating articleincluding a porous tobacco solid and a method of manufacturing a poroustobacco solid.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome thedisadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example,there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device which generatesaerosol by heating an aerosol generating material, rather than bycombusting cigarettes. Accordingly, researches on a heating-type aerosolgenerating device has been actively conducted.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating article includinga porous tobacco solid and a method of manufacturing a porous tobaccosolid.

Solution to Problem

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generatingarticle includes a first portion including an aerosol generatingelement, a second portion including a tobacco element, a third portionincluding a cooling element, and a fourth portion including a filterelement, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the thirdportion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged based on alength direction of the aerosol generating article, and the secondportion includes a porous tobacco solid including the tobacco element.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofmanufacturing a porous tobacco solid includes preparing a tobaccocomposition including tobacco powder, a binder, and a moisturizer,inserting the tobacco composition into a cylindrical frame in which atleast one gas spray pipe is located, and manufacturing the poroustobacco solid by spraying gas from the at least one gas spray pipe ontothe tobacco composition inserted into the cylindrical frame.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An aerosol generating article according to the present disclosure maytransfer rich nicotine through a porous structure of a tobacco solid.

In addition, the method for manufacturing a porous tobacco solidaccording to the present disclosure may provide a technique formanufacturing a tobacco solid having a porous structure that maytransfer rich nicotine by using a relatively simple method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which an aerosol generating article isinserted into an internal heating-type aerosol generating apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which an aerosol generating article isinserted into an external heating-type aerosol generating apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example in which an aerosol generatingarticle is inserted into an external heating-type aerosol generatingapparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an aerosol generating apparatus usingan induction heating method.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a structure of an aerosol generatingarticle according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a configuration of an aerosolgenerating article according to another example embodiment.

FIG. 7A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second portion of theaerosol generating article according to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second portion of anaerosol generating article according to another example embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates the aerosol generating article according to theexample embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 being inserted into an aerosolgenerating apparatus according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of manufacturing a porous tobacco solid ofthe aerosol generating article according to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6 .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generatingarticle includes a first portion including an aerosol generatingelement, a second portion including a tobacco element, a third portionincluding a cooling element, and a fourth portion including a filterelement, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the thirdportion, and the fourth portion are sequentially provided in a lengthdirection of the aerosol generating article. The second portion includesa porous tobacco solid including the tobacco element.

In addition, the porous tobacco solid may include at least one passagepenetrating from an upstream of the aerosol generating article to adownstream of the aerosol generating article, and a plurality of poresconnected to the at least one passage may be formed in an outercircumferential surface of the porous tobacco solid.

In addition, an average diameter of the at least one passage may rangefrom 1 mm to 4 mm.

In addition, an average diameter of the plurality of pores may rangefrom 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

In addition, a specific surface area of the porous tobacco solid mayrange from 200 m ²/g to 1000 m²/g.

In addition, the second portion may include a thermally conductivewrapper provided on the porous tobacco solid.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofmanufacturing a porous tobacco solid includes providing a tobaccocomposition including tobacco powder, a binder, and a moisturizer,inserting the tobacco composition into a cylindrical frame in which atleast one gas spray pipe is provided, and spraying gas from the at leastone gas spray pipe onto the tobacco composition inserted into thecylindrical frame to form the porous tobacco solid.

In addition, the tobacco composition may include 60 wt.% to 80 wt.% ofthe tobacco powder, 15 wt.% to 30 wt.% of the binder, and 5 wt.% to 10wt.% of the moisturizer.

In addition, the at least one gas spray pipe may have a plurality ofholes through which gas is sprayable onto an outer circumferentialsurface of the porous tobacco solid.

In addition, the method of manufacturing a porous tobacco solid mayfurther include drying the outside of the tobacco composition insertedinto the cylindrical frame after the inserting the tobacco compositioninto the cylindrical frame and prior to the spraying the gas.

In addition, a temperature of the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipemay range from 80° C. to 120° C.

In addition, a pressure of the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe mayrange from 0.5 mmbar to 3 mmbar.

In addition, the gas sprayed from the at least one gas spray pipe mayfurther include a flavor element.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

With respect to the terms used to describe in the various exampleembodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used areselected in consideration of functions of structural elements in thevarious embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of theterms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, theappearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certaincases, a term which is not commonly used can be selected. In such acase, the meaning of the term will be described in detail at thecorresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure.Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the presentdisclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and thedescriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word“comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will beunderstood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not theexclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er,” “-or,”and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing atleast one function and operation and can be implemented by hardwarecomponents or software components and combinations thereof.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” or “second”used in the present specification may be used to describe variouscomponents, but the components are not limited by the terms. Terms areonly used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from anothercomponent.

As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding alist of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modifythe individual elements of the list. For example, the expression, “atleast one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a,only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a,b, and c.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “over,” “above,” “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” anotherelement or layer, it can be directly over, above, on, connected orcoupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layersmay be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being“directly over,” “directly above,” “directly on,” “directly connectedto” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

Throughout the specification, an aerosol generating article may be anarticle used to smoke. For example, the aerosol generating article maybe a general combustion-type cigarette used in a manner that is ignitedand burned or may also be a heating-type cigarette used in a manner thatis heated by an aerosol generating apparatus. In another example, anaerosol generating article may also be an article used in a manner inwhich a liquid included in a cartridge is heated.

Throughout the specification, a tobacco element may be an elementincluding a tobacco material.

Throughout the specification, a tobacco material may be any type ofmaterial including components derived from a tobacco leaf.

Throughout the specification, a cooling element may be an element thatcools a material. For example, the cooling element may cool an aerosolgenerated in the tobacco element.

Throughout the specification, a filter element may be an elementincluding a filtration material. For example, the filter element mayinclude a plurality of strands of fibers.

Throughout the specification, a length direction of an aerosolgenerating article may be a direction in which the length of the aerosolgenerating article is extended or a direction in which the aerosolgenerating article is inserted into an aerosol generating apparatus.

Throughout the specification, a porous tobacco solid may be a solidmaterial having a structure in which a plurality of holes are formedinside and/or on a surface and including a tobacco material.

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so thatthose of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the exampleembodiments. However, the present disclosure may be implemented invarious different forms and is not limited to the example embodimentsdescribed herein.

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which an aerosol generating article isinserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the aerosol generating device 10000 may include abattery 11000, a processor 12000, and a heater 13000. The aerosolgenerating article 20000 may also be inserted into an inner space of theaerosol generating device 10000.

FIG. 1 illustrates components of the aerosol generating device 10000,which are related to the example embodiment. Therefore, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the exampleembodiment that other general-purpose components may be further includedin the aerosol generating device 10000, in addition to the componentsillustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11000, the processor 12000, and theheater 13000 are arranged in series, but the arrangement is not limitedthereto. For example, according to the design of the aerosol generatingdevice 10000, the battery 11000, the processor 12000, and the heater13000 may be differently arranged.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into the aerosolgenerating device 10000. the aerosol generating device 10000 heats theheater 13000. The temperature of an aerosol generating material in theaerosol generating article 20000 is raised by the heated heater 13000,and thus the aerosol is generated.

The generated aerosol is delivered to a user through a filter 22000, asillustrated in FIG. 5 , of the aerosol generating article 20000.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is not inserted into theaerosol generating device 10000. the aerosol generating device 10000 mayheat the heater 13000 when necessary. For example, the battery 11000 maysupply power to heat the heater 13000, and may supply power foroperating the processor 12000. Also, the battery 11000 may supply powerfor operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in theaerosol generating device 10000.

The processor 12000 may control operations of the aerosol generatingdevice 10000. For example, the processor 12000 may control not onlyoperations of the battery 11000 and the heater 13000, but alsooperations of other components included in the aerosol generating device10000. The processor 12000 may also check a state of each of thecomponents of the aerosol generating device 10000 to determine whetheror not the aerosol generating device 10000 may operate.

A processor 12000 may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logicgates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purposemicroprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in themicroprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skillin the art that the processor may be implemented in other forms ofhardware.

The heater 13000 may be heated by power supplied from the battery 11000.For example, when the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted intothe aerosol generating device 10000, the heater 13000 may be locatedinside the aerosol generating article 20000. Thus, the heated heater13000 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material inthe aerosol generating article 20000.

The heater 13000 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example,the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive track, and theheater 13000 may be heated when currents flow through the electricallyconductive track. However, the heater 13000 is not limited to theexample described above and may include all types of heaters which maybe heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may bepre-set in the aerosol generating device 10000 or may be set by a user.

For example, the heater 13000 may include a tube-type heating element, aplate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-typeheating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosolgenerating article 20000, according to the shape of the heating element.

The aerosol generating device 10000 may also include a plurality ofheaters 13000. Here, the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted intothe aerosol generating article 20000 or may be arranged outside of theaerosol generating article 20000. Some of the plurality of heaters 13000may also be inserted into the aerosol generating article 20000, and theother of the plurality of heaters 13000 may be arranged outside of theaerosol generating article 20000. In addition, the shape of the heater13000 is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG. 1 , and mayinclude various shapes.

The aerosol generating device 10000 may further include general-purposecomponents in addition to the battery 11000, the processor 12000, andthe heater 13000. For example, the aerosol generating device 10000 mayinclude a display configured to output visual information and/or a motorfor outputting haptic information. The aerosol generating device 10000may also include at least one sensor, for example, a puff detectingsensor, a temperature detecting sensor, an aerosol generating articleinsertion detecting sensor, etc. The aerosol generating device 10000 mayalso be formed as a structure where, even when the aerosol generatingarticle 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000,external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged.

The aerosol generating device 10000 and an additional cradle maytogether form a system. For example, the cradle may be used to chargethe battery 11000 of the aerosol generating device 10000. According toanother example, the heater 13000 may be heated when the cradle and theaerosol generating device 10000 are coupled to each other.

The aerosol generating article 20000 may be similar as a generalcombustive cigarette. For example, the aerosol generating article 20000may include at least one of a tobacco material and an aerosol generatingmaterial. For example, at least one of the tobacco material and theaerosol-generating material may be inserted into the first portion orthe second portion of the aerosol generating article 20000.

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passageformed in the aerosol generating device 10000. For example, the openingand closing and/or a size of the air passage formed in the aerosolgenerating device 10000 may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, theamount of smoke and a smoking impression may be adjusted by the user. Asanother example, the external air may flow into the aerosol generatingarticle 20000 through at least one hole formed on a surface of theaerosol generating article 20000.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which an aerosol generating article isinserted into an external heating-type aerosol generating apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an aerosol generating apparatus 10000 furtherincludes a vaporizer 14000 in addition to the configurations illustratedin FIG. 1 . An aerosol generating article 20000, a battery 11000, aprocessor 12000, and a heater 13000 of FIG. 2 may correspondrespectively to the aerosol generating article 20000, the battery 11000,the processor 12000, and the heater 13000 of FIG. 1 . Therefore,redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 2 illustrate components of the aerosol generating device 10000.which are related to the example embodiment. Therefore, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the exampleembodiment that other general-purpose components may be further includedin the aerosol generating device 10000. in addition to the componentsillustrated in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 illustrate that the aerosol generating device 10000 also includesthe heater 13000. However, as necessary, the heater 13000 may beomitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the battery 11000, the processor 12000, thevaporizer 14000, and the heater 13000 are arranged in series. However,the arrangement is not limited thereto.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into the aerosolgenerating device 10000, the aerosol generating device 10000 may operatethe vaporizer 14000 to generate aerosol from the vaporizer 14000. Theaerosol generated by the heater 13000 and/or the vaporizer 14000 isdelivered to the user by passing through the aerosol generating article20000.

The battery 11000 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generatingdevice 10000 to operate. The processor 12000 may generally controloperations of the vaporizer 14000.

The vaporizer 14000 may generate aerosol by heating a liquid compositionand the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generatingarticle 20000 to be delivered to a user. For example, the aerosolgenerated via the vaporizer 14000 may move along an air flow passage ofthe aerosol generating device 10000. The air flow passage may beconfigured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000passes through the aerosol generating article to be delivered to theuser.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may include a liquid storage, a liquiddelivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto.For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and theheating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 10000as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, theliquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containingmaterial having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquidincluding a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to bedetachable from the vaporizer 14000 or may be formed integrally with thevaporizer 14000.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent,ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. Thespices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and variousfruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavoringsmay include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastesto a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitaminA, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Theliquid composition may also include an aerosol forming substance, suchas glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of theliquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid deliveryelement may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber,or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid compositiondelivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heatingelement may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramicheater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, theheating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wireand may be wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating elementmay be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquidcomposition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating theliquid composition. As a result of heating the liquid composition,aerosol may be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may be a cartomizer or an atomizer, butit is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example in which an aerosol generatingarticle is inserted into an external heating-type aerosol generatingapparatus.

An aerosol generating article 20000, a battery 11000, a processor 12000,a heater 13000, and a vaporizer 14000 of FIG. 3 may correspondrespectively to the aerosol generating article 20000, the battery 11000,the processor 12000. the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000 of FIG. 2. Therefore, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the vaporizer 14000 and theheater 13000 are arranged in parallel. For example, the vaporizer 14000and the heater 13000 may be arranged in a line in series as illustratedin FIG. 2 or may be arranged in parallel as illustrated in FIG. 3 .However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating apparatus 10000is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 . Forexample, the battery 11000, the processor 12000, the heater 13000, andthe vaporizer 14000 may be arranged differently depending on the designof the aerosol generating apparatus 10000.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an aerosol generating apparatus usingan induction heating method.

Referring to FIG. 4 , an aerosol generating apparatus 10000 includes abattery 11000, a processor 12000, a coil C, and a susceptor S. Inaddition, at least part of the aerosol generating article 20000 may beaccommodated in a cavity V of the aerosol generating apparatus 10000.The aerosol generating article 20000, the battery 11000, and theprocessor 12000 of FIG. 4 may correspond respectively to the aerosolgenerating article 20000, the battery 11000, and the processor 12000 ofFIGS. 1 to 3 . In addition, the coil C and the susceptor S may beincluded in the heater 13000. Therefore, redundant descriptions thereofare omitted.

Components relating to the example embodiment are illustrated in theaerosol generating apparatus 10000 illustrated in FIG. 4 . Therefore,those skilled in the art relating to the example embodiment willappreciate that general-purpose components other than the componentsillustrated in FIG. 4 may be further included in the aerosol generatingapparatus 10000.

The coil C may be provided around the cavity V. FIG. 4 illustrates thatthe coil C surrounds the cavity V, but embodiments are not limitedthereto.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is accommodated in the cavityV of the aerosol generating apparatus 10000, the aerosol generatingapparatus 10000 may supply power to the coil C so that the coil Cgenerates a magnetic field. As the magnetic field generated by the coilC passes through the susceptor S, the susceptor S may be heated.

Such an induction heating phenomenon is a known phenomenon described byFaraday’s Law of induction. Specifically, when a magnetic induction inthe susceptor S changes, an electric field is generated in the susceptorS, and thereby, an eddy current flows in the susceptor S. The eddycurrent generates heat proportional to current density and conductorresistance in the susceptor S.

As the susceptor S is heated by the eddy current and an aerosolgenerating material in the aerosol generating article 20000 is heated bythe heated susceptor S, and thus, an aerosol may be generated. Theaerosol generated from the aerosol generating material passes throughthe aerosol generating article 20000 to be delivered to a user.

The battery 11000 may supply power so that the coil C may generate amagnetic field. The processor 12000 may be electrically connected to thecoil C.

The coil C may be an electrically conductive coil that generates amagnetic field by using the power supplied from the battery 11000. Thecoil C may surround at least part of the cavity V. The magnetic fieldgenerated by the coil C may be applied to the susceptor S arranged at aninner end portion of the cavity V.

The susceptor S is heated as the magnetic field generated from the coilC penetrates therethrough. The susceptor S may include metal or carbon.For example, the susceptor S may include at least one of ferrite,ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum.

The susceptor S may also include at least one of ceramic such asgraphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, metalfilm, or zirconia, a transition metal such as nickel (Ni) or cobalt(Co), and metalloid such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P). However, thesusceptor S is not limited to the above-described example and may bemade of any material as long as the material may be heated to adesirable temperature as a magnetic field is applied thereto. Here, thedesirable temperature may also be preset in the aerosol generatingapparatus 10000 or may also be set to a desirable temperature by a user.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is accommodated in the cavityV of the aerosol generating apparatus 10000. the susceptor S maysurround at least part of the aerosol generating article 20000.Therefore, the heated susceptor S may increase a temperature of anaerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 20000.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the susceptor S surrounds at least part of theaerosol generating article 20000, but embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the susceptor S may include a tubular heatingelement, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heatingelement, or a rod-shaped heating element, and the interior or exteriorof the aerosol generating article 20000 may be heated according to theshape of the heating element.

In addition, a plurality of susceptors S may also be arranged in theaerosol generating apparatus 10000. In this case, the plurality ofsusceptors S may also be arranged on the outside of the aerosolgenerating article 20000 or may also be arranged to be insertedthereinto. In addition, some of the plurality of susceptors S may bearranged to be inserted into the aerosol generating article 20000. andthe rest may be arranged on the outside of the aerosol generatingarticle 20000. In addition, the shape of the susceptor S is not limitedto the shape illustrated in FIG. 4 and may have various shapes.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of an aerosol generating article 20000according to an example embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the aerosol generating article 20000 may include afirst portion 21000, a second portion 22000, a third portion 23000, anda fourth portion 24000. For example, the first portion 21000, the secondportion 22000, the third portion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 mayeach include an aerosol generating element, a tobacco element, a coolingelement, and a filter element. In an example, the first portion 21000may include an aerosol generating material, the second portion 22000 mayinclude a tobacco material and a moisturizer, the third portion 23000may cool an airflow passing through the first portion 21000 and thesecond portion 22000, and the fourth portion 24000 may include a filtermaterial.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the first portion 21000, the second portion 22000,the third portion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 may besequentially arranged in a length direction of the aerosol generatingarticle 20000. Here, the length direction of the aerosol generatingarticle 20000 may be a direction in which the length of the aerosolgenerating article 20000 is extended. For example, the length directionof the aerosol generating article 20000 may be a direction from thefirst portion 21000 to the fourth portion 24000. Accordingly, an aerosolgenerated in at least one of the first portion 21000 and the secondportion 22000 may sequentially pass through the first portion 21000, thesecond portion 22000, the third portion 23000, and the fourth portion24000 to form an airflow, and thus, a user may inhale the aerosol fromthe fourth portion 24000.

The first portion 21000 may include an aerosol generating element. Inaddition, the first portion 21000 may include other additive materialssuch as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid and mayinclude a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizer. Here, theaerosol generating element may include at least one of, for example,glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol,diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleylalcohol. However, embodiments are not limited to the above-describedexample, and the present disclosure may include all of various types ofaerosol generating elements well known in the art.

The first portion 21000 may include a crimped sheet, and the aerosolgenerating element may be included in the first portion 21000 in a stateof being impregnated with the crimped sheet. In addition, other additivematerials such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organicacid and a flavoring liquid may be included in the first portion 21000in a state of being absorbed by the crimped sheet.

The crimped sheet may be a sheet made of a polymer material. Forexample, the polymer material may include at least one of paper,cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, thecrimped sheet may be a paper sheet that does not cause off-flavor due toheat even when heated to a high temperature. However, embodiments arenot limited thereto.

The first portion 21000 may extend from an end of the aerosol generatingarticle 20000 to a point of about 7 mm to about 20 mm. The secondportion 22000 may be about 7 mm to about a point where the first portion21000 ends, and may be extended to the point of 20 mm. However,embodiments are not limited to the numerical range, and lengths in whichthe first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 extend may beappropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by aperson skilled in the art.

The second portion 22000 may include a tobacco element. The tobaccoelement may be a tobacco material of a specific type. For example, thetobacco element may have a form of cut tobacco, tobacco particles, atobacco sheet, tobacco beads, tobacco granule, tobacco powder or tobaccoextract. In addition, the tobacco material may include one or more of,for example, a tobacco leave, a tobacco side vein, puffed tobacco, cuttobacco, cut plate leaf, and reconstituted tobacco.

The third portion 23000 may cool an airflow passing through the firstportion 21000 and the second portion 22000. The third portion 23000 maybe made of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material andmay have a cooling function. For example, the third portion 23000 may bemade of a polylactic acid (PLA) fiber, but is not limited thereto.According to another example, the third portion 23000 may be made of acellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the thirdportion 23000 is not limited to the above-described examples, and amaterial having a function of cooling an aerosol may be used the thirdportion 23000 without limitation. For example, the third portion 23000may be a tube filter or a branch pipe filter including a hollow.

The fourth portion 24000 may include a filter material. For example, thefourth portion 24000 may be a cellulose acetate filter. In addition, ashape of the fourth portion 24000 is not limited. For example, thefourth portion 24000 may also be a cylindrical rod or may also be atube-type rod including a hollow therein. In addition, the fourthportion 24000 may be a recess-type rod. When the fourth portion 24000includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality ofsegments may have a different shape from the others.

The fourth portion 24000 may also generate flavor. In an example, aflavoring liquid may also be sprayed on the fourth portion 24000, or aseparate fiber coated with the flavoring liquid may also be insertedinto the fourth portion 24000.

The aerosol generating article 20000 may include a wrapper 25000surrounding at least part of the first portion 21000 to the fourthportion 24000. In addition, the aerosol generating article 20000 mayinclude the wrapper 25000 surrounding all of the first portion 21000 tothe fourth portion 24000. The wrapper 25000 may be at the outermost partof the aerosol generating article 20000, and the wrapper 25000 may be asingle wrapper or may be a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

In an example, the first portion 21000 of the aerosol generating article20000 may include a crimped corrugated sheet including an aerosolgenerating material, the second portion 22000 may include a cut plateleaf as a tobacco material and glycerin as a moisturizer, the thirdportion 23000 may include a branch pipe, and the fourth portion 24000may include a cellulose acetate (CA) fiber, but embodiments are notlimited thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of an aerosol generating article 100according to an example embodiment.

According to an example embodiment, an aerosol generating article 100may include a first portion 110 including an aerosol generating element,a second portion 120 including a tobacco element, a third portion 130including a cooling element, and a fourth portion 140 including a filterelement.

The first portion 21000, the second portion 22000, the third portion23000, and the fourth portion 24000 described above with reference toFIG. 5 may be equally applied to the first portion 110, the secondportion 120, the third portion 130, and the fourth portion 140.

The first portion 110, the second portion 120, the third portion 130,and the fourth portion 140 may be sequentially arranged in a lengthdirection of the aerosol generating article 100.

In an example embodiment, the first portion 110 may include an aerosolgenerating element. The aerosol generating element may include at leastone of, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol,dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethyleneglycol, and oleyl alcohol. However, embodiments are not limited to theabove-described example, and the present disclosure may include all ofvarious types of aerosol generating elements well known in the art. Inaddition, the first portion 110 may contain other additive materialssuch as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid, and maycontain a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizer.

The first portion 110 may include a crimped sheet, and the aerosolgenerating element may be included in the first portion 110 in a stateof being impregnated with the crimped sheet. In addition, other additivematerials such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organicacid and a flavoring liquid may be included in the first portion 110 ina state of being absorbed by the crimped sheet.

In an example embodiment, the third portion 130 may include a coolingelement. The third portion 130 may cool an airflow formed by thegenerated aerosol. The third portion 130 may be made of a polymermaterial or a biodegradable polymer material and may have a coolingfunction. For example, the third portion 130 may be made of a PLA fiberbut is not limited thereto. According to another example, the thirdportion 130 may be made of a cellulose acetate filter having a pluralityof holes. However, the third portion 130 is not limited to theabove-described example, and a material having a function of cooling anaerosol may be used for the third portion 130 without limitation. Forexample, the third portion 130 may be a tube filter or a branch pipefilter including a hollow therein.

In an example embodiment, the fourth portion 140 may include a filterelement. The filter element may serve to filter an aerosol and may alsofunction as a mouthpiece. The filter element may include a filtersegment and a hollow portion.

Hereinafter, the second portion 120 of the aerosol generating article100 will be described in more detail.

In an example embodiment, the second portion 120 may include a poroustobacco solid including a tobacco element.

As will be described below, the aerosol generating article 100 accordingto the example embodiment includes a porous tobacco solid in the secondportion 120, thereby enabling uniform heating over the entire secondportion 120. For example, when the second portion is heated by anexternal heating-type aerosol generating apparatus, heat may berelatively smoothly provided not only to the outside of the secondportion adjacent to a heater but also to the inside of the secondportion, and thus, uniform heating may be possible. Because the entiresecond portion is uniformly heated, the residual amount of nicotinecontained in a tobacco element after stopping smoking is reduced, and ahigh level of a nicotine transfer rate may be provided to a user. Inaddition, as a removal rate of an aerosol generated in the first portionis reduced due to the porous structure, a sufficient amount ofatomization may be provided to the user.

In an example embodiment, the second portion 120 may include one poroustobacco solid, and the porous tobacco solid may have a cylindricalshape. When one porous tobacco solid is included, heating of a moreuniform temperature may be achieved compared to a case where a pluralityof porous tobacco solids are included.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view 200 of the second portion 120 of theaerosol generating article according to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6 .

The porous tobacco solid may include at least one passage 201penetrating from an upstream to a downstream of the aerosol generatingarticle (i.e., extending in the length direction of the aerosolgenerating article), and a plurality of pores 202 connected to the atleast one passage may be formed on an outer circumferential surface ofthe porous tobacco solid.

The at least one passage 201 penetrating from the upstream to thedownstream may serve as a passage through which the heat provided movesand may allow nicotine in the second portion and the aerosol generatedin the first portion to be smoothly transferred.

In addition, at least one passage 201 penetrating from the upstream tothe downstream may be connected to a plurality of pores 202 formed on anouter circumferential surface of a porous tobacco solid. The pluralityof pores 202 may allow heat provided by the aerosol generating apparatusto smoothly enter or exit the porous tobacco solid so that the entireporous tobacco solid is uniformly heated and may serve as passagesthrough which nicotine generated inside the porous tobacco solid istransferred. Accordingly, the amount of transfer of nicotine of anaerosol of the aerosol generating article may be adjusted by adjustingsizes and the number of the plurality of pores 202.

The at least one passage 201 penetrating from the upstream to thedownstream may have an average diameter of 1 mm to 4 mm based on theaerosol generating article having a diameter of 4.5 mm to 8 mm, byconsidering smooth transfer of heat, an aerosol, and nicotine. Forexample, the at least one passage 201 may have an average diameterranging from 1.2 mm to 3 mm, or an average diameter ranging from 1.5 mmto 2.5 mm.

In addition, the plurality of pores 202 may have an average diameterranging from 0.1 mm to 1 mm based on the aerosol generating articlehaving a diameter ranging from 4.5 mm to 8 mm, by considering thetransfer of heat and nicotine. For example, the plurality of pores 202may have an average diameter ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm, or anaverage diameter ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. However, embodiments arenot limited to the above description. For example, a porous structuremay include the passages 201 and the pores 202 of various sizes andshapes.

For example, the at least one passage 201 penetrating from the upstreamto the downstream may have an average diameter ranging from 1.2 mm to 3mm based on the aerosol generating article having a diameter rangingfrom 4.5 mm to 8 mm, and the plurality of pores 202 may have an averagediameter ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm. In this case, a nicotinetransfer rate may be increased because heat applied to and provided froman external heating-type aerosol generating apparatus is smoothlyintroduced and discharged. For example, an aerosol generating articleincluding a tobacco solid that does not have a porous structure has theresidual amount of nicotine ranging from about 40% to 70% after a userstops smoking, whereas an aerosol generating article including a poroustobacco solid according to an example embodiment may have the residualamount of nicotine of 10% or less. In addition, absorption resistancemay be appropriately adjusted by the porous structure, and excessivetemperature rise of the aerosol generating article during smoking may beprevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the porous tobacco solid may include at leastthree passages 201 penetrating from an upstream to a downstream, butembodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the number of passages201 may be appropriately adjusted by considering a size of the aerosolgenerating article, a diameter of at least one passage penetrating fromthe upstream to the downstream, a nicotine transfer rate, absorptionresistance of the porous tobacco solid, aerosol removal performance, andthe like. For example, the porous tobacco solid may include one to fivepassages penetrating from the upstream to the downstream.

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second portion 300 of anaerosol generating article according to another example embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a porous tobacco solid may include a passage 301penetrating from an upstream to a downstream. The number of theplurality of pores 302 may be proportional to the number of passages 301penetrating from the upstream to the downstream, and as the number ofpassages penetrating from the upstream to the downstream is reducedcompared to the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, the number ofthe plurality of pores 302 formed on an outer circumferential surfacemay also be reduced.

By adjusting the number of the plurality of pores 302, a specificsurface area of the porous tobacco solid may also be adjusted. Theporous tobacco solid may have a specific surface area ranging from 200m²/g to 1000 m²/g. For example, the specific surface area of the poroustobacco solid may range from 300 m²/g to 800 m²/g. By adjusting thespecific surface area of the porous tobacco solid, a nicotine transferrate and feeling of heat of an aerosol generating article may beadjusted.

In an example embodiment, a second portion may include a thermallyconductive wrapper surrounding the porous tobacco solid. The thermallyconductive wrapper may be formed of aluminum (Al), gold (Au), iron (Fe),nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), conductive carbon (C), graphite, mild steel,stainless steel, copper, or bronze. The thermally conductive wrapper mayhave a thickness of several µm to several hundred µm, but is not limitedthereto. The thermally conductive wrapper may uniformly transfer heat toa porous tobacco solid extending in a length direction of an aerosolgenerating article.

A thermal conductivity of the thermally conductive wrapper may beadjusted by changing a material and thickness of the thermallyconductive wrapper, and thus, components of an aerosol provided to auser may be adjusted.

FIG. 8 illustrates an aerosol generating article 400 according to theexample embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 being inserted into an aerosolgenerating apparatus 10 according to an example embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8 , an aerosol generating system may include anaccommodation space 12 for accommodating the aerosol generating article400, a heating element 11 for heating the aerosol generating article400, and a battery for supplying power to the heating element 11.

The above-described example embodiments of an aerosol generating articlemay be applied to the aerosol generating article 400.

In an example embodiment, the heating element 11 may have a cylindricalshape surrounding the accommodation space 12. However, the heatingelement 11 is not limited thereto and may be provided inside of theaccommodation space 12 or may also have a sawing needle shape.

In an example embodiment, when the aerosol generating article isinserted into the accommodation space, a part of the first portion and apart of the second portion may be covered by the heating element in alength direction of the aerosol generating article 400.

When the heating element 11 operates, an aerosol generating elementincluded in the first portion 410 and a tobacco element included in thesecond portion 420 may be heated. The generated aerosol may be directedto the outside of the aerosol generating article 400 by passing throughthe third portion 430 and the fourth portion 440.

Referring to FIG. 8 , as described above, even when the aerosolgenerating article 400 is heated by the external heating-type heatingelement 11, heat may be more uniformly supplied to a central portion bya porous structure of the second portion 420, and thus, a user may beprovided with an increased nicotine transfer rate.

According to an example embodiment, a method of manufacturing a poroustobacco solid may include preparing a tobacco composition includingtobacco powder, a binder, and a moisturizer, inserting the tobaccocomposition into a cylindrical frame in which at least one gas spraypipe is located, and spraying gas from the at least one gas spray pipeonto the tobacco composition inserted into the cylindrical frame to formthe porous tobacco solid.

Here, the porous tobacco solid may have a configuration included in thesecond portion of the aerosol generating article of FIG. 6 to 7B.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of manufacturing a porous tobacco solid ofan aerosol generating article according to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6 . Hereinafter, the method of manufacturing theporous tobacco solid will be described with reference to FIG. 9 .

A tobacco composition 20 may be a composition obtained by mixing tobaccopowder, a binder, and a moisturizer. The tobacco powder may be apulverized material of at least one of the above-described tobaccomaterials. The binder may be, for example, guar gum, xanthan gum,carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), orhydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC). The moisturizer may include atleast one of, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol,dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethyleneglycol, and oleyl alcohol.

In an example embodiment, the tobacco composition 20 may include 60 wt.%to 80 wt.% of tobacco powder, 15 wt.% to 30 wt.% of a binder, and 5 wt.%to 10 wt.% of a moisturizer. A composition of the tobacco composition 20may affect a porous structure formed by gas spray of the gas spray pipe21, particularly, formation of pores formed on an outer circumferentialsurface of the porous tobacco solid. When the tobacco composition isprovided outside a composition range of the tobacco powder, the binder,and the moisturizer described above, pores having a desirable size maynot be uniformly distributed on a surface of the tobacco solid in thegas spray process and pores having irregular sizes may be formed.

In the example embodiment, the manufactured porous tobacco solid mayhave at least one passage penetrating from the upstream to thedownstream at a position into which the gas spray pipe 21 is inserted.

In the example embodiment, at least one gas spray pipe 21 may have aplurality of holes 22 through which gas may be sprayed on an outercircumferential surface. A plurality of pores connected to at least onepassage by gas sprayed from the plurality of holes 22 of the gas spraypipe 21 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the poroustobacco solid.

In the example embodiment, the method of manufacturing the poroustobacco solid may further include a step of drying the outside of thetobacco composition 20 inserted into the cylindrical frame betweeninserting the tobacco composition into a cylindrical frame andmanufacturing the porous tobacco solid . An external hardness of thetobacco composition 20 prior to the spray of gas may affect formation ofa porous structure. The gas sprayed from the plurality of holes 22 ofthe gas spray pipe 21 escapes to the outside of the tobacco composition20 and forms pores. When the outer hardness of the tobacco composition20 from which the gas escapes is less than or equal to a certain level,the sprayed gas does not form pores and remains inside and iscompressed. As a result, the tobacco composition 20 may explode.Therefore, to the method may further include a step of increasing theexternal hardness of by drying the outside of the tobacco composition 20before gas is sprayed through the gas spray pipe 21.

According to the example embodiment, an outer circumferential surface ofa cylindrical frame may have a gas discharge hole having a largerdiameter than diameters of the plurality of holes 22 formed on an outercircumferential surface of the gas spray pipe 21. The gas discharge holeinduces smooth discharge of the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21so that a porous tobacco solid may maintain a cylindrical shape easilyused for an aerosol generating article assembly process in the future.

In the example embodiment, the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21may have a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 120° C. When thetemperature of the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21 is less thanor equal to 80° C., it may be difficult to form pores having a uniformsize on the outer circumferential surface of the porous tobacco solid,and when the temperature of the gas exceeds 120° C., the tobaccocomposition 20 may burn or explode during a manufacturing process.

In addition, the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21 may have apressure of 0.5 mmbar to 3 mmbar. If the pressure of the sprayed gas isless than 0.5 mmbar, pores may not be formed due to insufficientpressure of the gas, and when the pressure exceeds 3 mmbar, the tobaccocomposition 20 may explode in the cylindrical frame due to anexcessively strong pressure, or a specific surface area may be reduceddue to an increase in sizes of the pores.

In the example embodiment, the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21may be, for example, water vapor or an inert gas, but is not limited tothe above-described example, and any gas capable of forming pores may beused without limitation.

In the example embodiment, the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21may further include a flavor element. The flavor element includesfragrance or a flavoring agent. The fragrance may include menthol,peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit flavoring ingredients, and thelike, but is not limited thereto. The flavoring agent may includeingredients capable of providing various flavors or fragrances to auser.

The flavor elements included in gas may remain in the manufacturedporous tobacco solid to provide various flavors or fragrances to theuser when smoking. For example, water vapor including a flavoring agentmay be used as the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe 21.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively“components” in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawingsmay be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmwarestructures that execute respective functions described above, accordingto an exemplary embodiment For example, at least one of these componentsmay use a direct circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, alogic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respectivefunctions through controls of one or more microprocessors or othercontrol apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components may bespecifically embodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, whichcontains one or more executable instructions for performing specifiedlogic functions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or othercontrol apparatuses. Further, at least one of these components mayinclude or may be implemented by a processor such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) that performs the respective functions, amicroprocessor, or the like. Two or more of these components may becombined into one single component which performs all operations orfunctions of the combined two or more components. Also, at least part offunctions of at least one of these components may be performed byanother of these components. Further, although a bus is not illustratedin the above block diagrams, communication between the components may beperformed through the bus. Functional aspects of the above exemplaryembodiments may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or moreprocessors. Furthermore, the components represented by a block orprocessing steps may employ any number of related art techniques forelectronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, dataprocessing and the like.

Those of ordinary skill in the art related to the example embodimentsmay understand that various changes in form and details can be madetherein without departing from the scope of the characteristicsdescribed above. The disclosed methods should be considered in adescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

1. An aerosol generating article comprising: a first portion comprisingan aerosol generating element; a second portion comprising a tobaccoelement; a third portion comprising a cooling element; and a fourthportion comprising a filter element, wherein the first portion, thesecond portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion aresequentially provided in a length direction of the aerosol generatingarticle, and wherein the second portion comprises a porous tobacco solidthat comprises the tobacco element.
 2. The aerosol generating article ofclaim 1, wherein the porous tobacco solid comprises at least one passagepenetrating from upstream of the aerosol generating article todownstream of the aerosol generating article, and wherein a plurality ofpores connected to the at least one passage is formed in an outercircumferential surface of the porous tobacco solid.
 3. The aerosolgenerating article of claim 2, wherein an average diameter of the atleast one passage ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm.
 4. The aerosol generatingarticle of claim 2, wherein an average diameter of the plurality ofpores ranges from 0.1 mm to 1 mm.
 5. The aerosol generating article ofclaim 1, wherein a specific surface area of the porous tobacco solidranges from 200 m²/g to 1000 m²/g.
 6. The aerosol generating article ofclaim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a thermally conductivewrapper provided on the porous tobacco solid.
 7. A method ofmanufacturing a porous tobacco solid, the method comprising: providing atobacco composition including tobacco powder, a binder, and amoisturizer; inserting the tobacco composition into a cylindrical framein which at least one gas spray pipe is provided; and spraying gas fromthe at least one gas spray pipe on the tobacco composition inserted intothe cylindrical frame to form the porous tobacco solid.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the tobacco composition includes 60 wt.% to 80 wt.% ofthe tobacco powder, 15 wt.% to 30 wt.% of the binder, and 5 wt.% to 10wt.% of the moisturizer.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at leastone gas spray pipe has a plurality of holes through which gas issprayable onto an outer circumferential surface of the porous tobaccosolid.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: drying the outsideof the tobacco composition inserted into the cylindrical frame after theinserting the tobacco composition into the cylindrical frame and priorto the spraying the gas.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein atemperature of the gas sprayed from the gas spray pipe ranges from 80°C. to 120° C.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein a pressure of the gassprayed from the gas spray pipe ranges from 0.5 mmbar to 3 mmbar. 13.The method of claim 7, wherein the gas sprayed from the at least one gasspray pipe further comprises a flavor element.